Potential role of group clinics to boost outcomes among elderly Spanish-only speaking stroke patients

Ethnic minorities are generally at higher risk for experiencing a stroke and dying from a stroke than non-Hispanic Whites, but are less likely to have optimal stroke risk factor control. Part of this ethnic disparity in stroke outcomes can be attributed to sociocultural factors. As such, there is a need to use culturally sensitive qualitative analysis to explore various strategies for enhancing vascular risk reduction in minority stroke patients encountered in under-resourced health systems. One potential strategy could be the use of nurse-led group clinics. Group clinics might be a relatively straightforward way of supplementing physician-centered efforts to improve outcomes in under-resourced settings by improving efficiency and encouraging patient self-management. However, research is limited on the implementation of group clinics among low-income, ethnic minority populations. This study aimed to obtain information about the feasibility of successfully implementing group clinics to boost treatment adherence among elderly Spanish-speaking only stroke patients within an under-resourced urban health system. A total of 13 Spanish-only speaking participants aged >or=60 years discharged from a local government hospital in Los Angeles within 18 months of an index ischemic stroke, and 6 caregivers, engaged in focus groups and interviews. Structured interviews were conducted with 11 care providers and 9 administrators at the hospital. Framework analysis examined the data and elicited themes necessary for successful execution of nurse-led group clinics for promoting vascular risk reduction treatment adherence among Elderly Spanish-only speaking stroke patients encountered within an urban health care system.